SEER is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 28 percent of the U.S. population.

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U.S. Population Data - 1969-2015Released December 2016

The county population estimates currently used in the SEER*Stat software to calculate cancer incidence and mortality rates are available for download (see Download U.S. Population Data). They represent a modification of the intercensal and Vintage 2015 annual time series of July 1, county population estimates by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin produced by the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program, in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics, and with support from the NCI through an interagency agreement. The modifications made by the NCI to the Census Bureau estimates are documented in Population Estimates Used in NCI’s SEER*Stat Software and are summarized below.

The population estimates incorporate intercensal (for July 1, 2000-2009) and Vintage 2015 (for July 1, 2010-2015) bridged single-race estimates that are derived from the original multiple race categories in the 2000 and 2010 Censuses. The bridged single-race estimates and a description of the methodology used to develop them appear on the National Center for Health Statistics Web site.

A modification that NCI has made to the Census Bureau estimates only affects population estimates for the state of Hawaii. Based on concerns that the native Hawaiian population has been vastly undercounted in previous censuses, the Epidemiology Program of the Hawaii Cancer Research Center has recommended an adjustment to the populations for their state. The "Hawaii-adjustment" to the Census Bureau’s estimates has the net result of reducing the estimated white population and increasing the estimated Asian and Pacific Islander population for the state. The estimates for the total population, black population, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations in Hawaii are not modified.

Two sets of population estimates are available for 2005: the standard set based on July 1 populations and another set adjusted for population shifts due to hurricanes Katrina (August 29) and Rita (September 24). These estimates are lower for counties/parishes that had direct hurricane impact and higher for counties/parishes that were destinations for those displaced. See Adjusted Populations for the Counties/Parishes Affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita for more information.